Professor Wang Jianhua

Chairman Yang, University Council Members, President Tong and Honoured Guests,

It is my greatest honour to receive the honorary Fellowship conferred by PolyU at the beginning of the new year 2015. I take this as a great privilege as well as a recognition of the long-term relationships between PolyU and Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU). For this, I would like to express my deepest gratitude.

I knew my counterparts at PolyU some 15 years ago. At that time, our country has just launched the strategy for the Western Development Program. All parties concerned responded with ambitious plans and actions, hoping to make use of this unparalleled opportunity to contribute to the development of the society and the nation. Riding on this occasion, the PolyU senior management visited the Chinese mainland to explore the feasibility of forming some strategic partnerships. Xi’an Jiaotong University was privileged to be chosen as PolyU’s partnering organization. After a series of detailed discussion and planning, the two universities jointly established Xi’an Tongli International College with a view to nurturing senior management professionals for the development of western China. The project went smoothly and up to now, there are more than 2,000 students graduated from this College. They have contributed significantly to the development of western China. The project, which is widely recognized by the various sectors, has served as a model for academic collaboration between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

I have personally participated in the implementation of this programme and have been very attentive to its development. I am indeed very proud of its achievements. Through this project, I have also gained a better understanding of the vision of PolyU’s senior management, their strong sense of social responsibility, the positive culture and the friendship between the faculty members and the students.  

There is a Chinese saying which goes, “A long road tests a horse's strength and a long task proves a man's heart”. After working together for 15 years, we have become very close friends. I expect the collaboration between XJTU and PolyU could be further strengthened and be even more productive. I will also give my best to foster the collaboration of the two universities and facilitate its sustainable development.  

Once again, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to PolyU for giving me this honour.

Dr Chung King Fai, SBS

Dr Humphrey Leung Kwong Wai, JP

Dr Dennis Ng Wang Pun, BBS, MH

Ms Josephine Siao Fong Fong, MBE

Professor Wang Jianhua

Mr Alexander Woo Chung Ho

Dr Royce Yuen Man Chun, JP

(in alphabetical order of last name)